Apparatus for pressing out liquid



R. W. SCOTT APPARATUS FOR PRESSING OUT LIQUID Dec. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 INVENTOR 6;/ W cuff 7 BY ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1951 w, SCQTT 2,579,054

APPARATUS FOR PRES SING OUT LIQUID Filed Dec. 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 '9 1 MIIIIIIIIIIIIIA 9293 1%, 5 6 a INVENTOR Pay 14/ 560/7" ATTOR NEY Dec. 18, 1951 R. w. SCOTT APPARATUS FOR PRESSING OUT LIQUID 4 Sheeb's-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 INVENTOR P y 4 560/6 rLi/ w/ ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1951 R. w. SCOTT 2, 79,054

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING OUT LIQUID Filed Dec. 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR} Fay W 560%) BY ATTO Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APP'ARATUS'FOR PRESSING OUT LIQUID RayW. Scott, Los Angeles, Calif. ApplicationDecember 28, 1944, SerialNo. 570,128

7 Claims;

This invention relates to apparatus for removing or expressing ,excess liquid from articles, such as mops, or swabs, or the like.

As is well understood in the use of a mop,

the mop usually is made as wet as desired-by immersing the mop in water, or an appropriate liquid mixture, commonly provided in a portable container, such as a bucket, 01"1311b, and then pressing or wringing the mop to remove the surplus liquid. It is an objectof this inventionto provide an improved unitary structure, comprising a container for the liquid mixture, and means for removing surplus liquidfrom the mop.

It is anotherobject of this invention to provide improved pressing or wringing means for removing liquid froma mop, swab, or the like.

It has been common in the past to provide a pair ofwringer rolls, supported orr-the container, for operating on the mop; but such provisions are ineliective, for the mop retains a large amount of moisture.-

It is, accordingly, another object of this-inven'- tion to provide-awringing or pressing device, or the-like; which is readilyopera-ble to exert considerable"pressure; and therebyto provide a" muchdrier mop than has been possible bythe useof the common wringer rolls.

It is still another object of this invention to. provide a hydraulically operated wringing or pressingmechanism, and especially one thatis operated manually.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a hydraulic pressure pump having novel means for releasing the pressure when desired;

This invention possesses many other advantages, and hasiother objects which may be made 1 more clearly apparent from a consideration of. a few embodiments of the invention. For this. purpose there are shown several forms in the drawings accompanying. and forming .partzof the present specification. Theseforms willnow be described .in. detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to. be understood thatthis detailed description is not to be" taken 3, showinga different operatingposition of the parts;

Fig. 5isa detailcross section, 5- 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in section, takenalong plane 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a'fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 6, but showing a different operating position or the parts; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing a modified form of the invention.

The device is shownlFigs. 1 and 6) ascoi-l prising acontainer or bucket l, which may be of light sheet metal and, preferably, of elongated cross section. The squeezing or wringing mechanism 2 is mounted near one end of the bucket I, and includes a tubular housing 3 open at both ends and supported above the bottom of the bucket l by a number of columns or posts 4; A pressure member 5 (see, also, Fig. 3) is arranged for longitudinal movement within housing 3 by hydraulically operated mechanism 6, and serves to support the article from which the liquid is to be expressed, such as a mop taken on plane w or swab, within the housing 3, as shown in'Fig.

7'. As the member 5 moves upwardly, a pair of gates 1 and 8 pivotally mounted on the housing 3 are-swung to close the top citric-housing by thecam me'chanismQ (Fig. 6). In this position,

the gates'l and 8 serve to restrain upward movement of the article so that, as member icontinues to moveup, the article is confinedbetween member 5 and gates 1 and 81 the pressure exerted thereby serving to express or wring a substantial part of the liquid from the article;

The hydraulic mechanism 6' is actuated by a pressure pump It} (Figs: land 3) attached to the outside of the bucket i and arranged to be" operated bythe users foot. In this way considerable pressure may be exerted readily on the mop; anditis an easy matter to wring it asdry as desired. Means are provided whereby appropriate manipulation of the plungerof pump [0 releases the pressure in the hydraulic mechanism 6' so that member 5 and gates i and S maybe returned to their initial position and the mop freed for removal and use. As shown, the mechanism dis actuated by liquid taken from the bucket I and returned there after use; but, if desired, liquid may be taken from another source for this purpose.

The apparatus will nowbe described in detail. Thehousing 3 has a cylindrical portion IS with an annular flange IBabout itslower edge, which is suitably secured to the tops of the'columns, 4.

The pressure member 5, which supports the mop, is dished and provided with a cylindrical rim 1'! which is freely slidable in housing 3 (see Fig. 3). Thus, member 5 resembles a piston and may be described as a piston-like member. Member 5 is secured to the upper end of the piston rod l8 of the hydraulic mechanism 6, as by a screw [9. Interposed between rod l6 and member 5 is the cam member 20 (Figs. 3, 6, and 7) which forms one element of the cam mechanism 9; and a reinforcing plate 2|. The piston rod I8 is attached to a piston 22, as by a screw 23. Piston 22 is slidable in a cylinder 24 and is packed by a conventional cup leather 25. Cylinder 24 may comprise a tube threaded at its lower end 26 into a base 21 which cooperates with the cylinder 24 and the piston 22 to form a closed pressure space 28.

5 moves upwardly in response to pressure in chamber 28. Upon release of the pressure in chamber 28, piston 22, member 5, and cam member may be returned to their lower or initial positions by downward pressure exerted on the mop handle by the user. This allows gates 1 and 8 to return to their initial positions by gravity and to uncover the housing 3.

An important detail of this construction is that the rollers 45 and 46 and fingers 48 cooperate Y with piston 22 properly to guide the piston 22 and The base 21 is provided with a plurality of legs 29 having flat feet or pads 3!] which support the cylinder 24 on the bottom .l-a of the container 1. For this purpose, the bottom l-a is provided with a plurality of intruded portions 32, there being one of these for each 1eg'29. The posts 4 are respectively supported on the pads 38, a single screw 33 in each post serving to hold the post 4 and pad 30 in assembled relationship on the pressed portion 32 (see Fig. 6). Suitable washers, as 34, are provided between the head of screw 33 and the bottom l-a of the container I to prevent, leakage. A port 36 is provided in head 21 leading into the pressure space 28 and communicatin with the pump In by conduit 31.

The gates 1 and 8 are substantially identical,

I each comprising an element 46 in the form of a circular arc, which embraces the housing 3. The gates 1 and 8 are pivotally secured to the tubular part I5 of housing 3 by pintles 43 and 44, and are adapted to swing upwardly about their pintles from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. '7. For this purpose, cam following rollers and 46 are mounted respectively on the extremities or side walls 4| and 42 of each element 40.

Cam member 28 extends across and beneath housing 3. The cam member 26, which is exterior of cylinder 24, is provided with downward offsets 41 terminating in upwardly directed fingers 48, each finger having cam surfaces 49 and 56 on its opposite edges, the upper end portions 49-11 and 5fl-a of these cam surfaces being inclined toward each other. 7

From an inspection of Figs. 6 and '7, it will be clear that gates 1 and 8 tend to swing downwardly about their pintles 43 and 44 in response to gravity, thereby urging cam followers or rollers 45 and 46 against cam surfaces 49 and 58. With cam member 20 in its lowermost position, as

shown in Fig. 6, rollers 45 and 46 engage the upper end portions of the inclined surfaces 49-11 and 50-a, allowing gates 1 and 8 to assume a position in which they entirely uncover housing 3.

As cam member 20 is moved upwardly by piston 22, in response to pressure in chamber 28, the inclined surfaces 49-11 and 5(l-a urge rollers 45 and 46 apart, swinging gates 1 and 8 together above the housing 3. With the rollers 45 and 46 in' this position, they are spaced sufiiciently far apart to permit fingers 48 to pass between them, the rollers, by engaging the straight portions of cam surfaces 49 and 59, serving to maintain the gates 1 and 8 in this position (see Fig. 7) even after the cam fingers 48 continue their upward movement. Thus, the gates! and. 8 cooperate with the member 5 to exert pressure on an ob ject, such as a mop, in the housing 3 asmember' cam member 26 in their upward movement. For this purpose rollers 45 and 46 are provided with grooves 45-a and 46-a to accommodate the fingers 48 (see Figs. 3 and 1).

The pump It for controlling the pressure in chamber 28 comprises a cylindrical barrel 55 (Figs. 1 to 5) threadedly secured at its lower end 56 in a base block 51, attached to an appropriately flattened portion 58 on the exterior of the vertical wall I-b of the bucket I. For this purpose a screw plate 59 is provided on the inside of the bucket portion 58, which is threadedly engaged by screws 60 passing'through the base block 51 and bucket wall l-b. Suitable gaskets 6i and 62 are provided to prevent leakage of liquid around block 51.

A pair of spaced vertical guide rods 64 and 65 extend upwardly from block 51, their upper ends being supported by a bracket 56 secured on wall i-b (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3). A packed plunger 61 is reciprocable within barrel 55, being joined with a foot pad 68 by a piston rod 69. The foot pad 68 embraces rods 64 and 65 so as to be guided thereby, and is normally urged to the upper limit of its movement by compression springs 16 and H encircling rods 64 and 65 respectively and supported by suitable stops "E2 on the rods. These stops 12 may be formed conveniently by cotter pins passed through suitably positioned apertures in the rods.

The arrangement is such that downward movement of the pad 68 and plunger Bl, as by the pressure of the users foot, forcesliquid from pump barrel 55 through conduit 31 into the pressure space 28. Upon relaxation of the pressure on pad 68, springs 19 and 1| are effective to urge pad 68 and plunger 61 upwardly to their initial position, liquid being drawn into cylinder 55 from the container I. A subsequent depression of the pad 68 and plunger 61 forces this additional liquid into space 28, which, in turn, forces piston 22 and connected parts additionally upwardly. This cycle may be repeated as often as necessary to cause the pressure member 5 to exerta desired pressure on the mop confined by gates 1 and 8 in housing 3. Care must be exercised, however, so that plunger 61 is not depressed to its lower limit of movement, at least not more than momentarily, since means are provided whereby retention of the plunger in such position permits discharge of liquid from space 28.

The means by which movement of the pump plunger accomplishes these results will now be described. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that block 51 has a valve chamber 15 formed therein, opening at the bottom of block 51 and closed by a threaded plug 16. This chamber is in communication with the interior of bucket I by a port 11 which extends through plate 59 where it connects with a conduit '18 leading to a fine mesh tubular screen 19 (see Fig.2).

An inlet port 89 leads from chamber 15 to the interior of barrel 55, terminating. in a portion,

18l of enlarged diameter, whereby a valve, seat 82 is'formed. A ball valve- 83 cooperates with seat 82 to permit liquid to pass from chamber 15 into cylinder 55 and to prevent reverse flow of liquid. A screw 84 is threaded into block 51 adjacentport 8|]- so that its head overhangs the enlarged portion 8I of the port, thus serving to limit upward movement of ball valve 83: (see, also, Fig. 5). V g A I An outlet port 86 leads from: the interior of barrel 55 and is connected with valvechamber I5 by an enlarged intermediate port 8']: forming a valveseat 88 controlled byua ball valve89. A port an connects port 81 with conduit, 31. Abypass valveseat 9| is formed between port-81cand valve chamber I5 and is axially spaced from the. outlet valve seat 88. Seat 9| is. axially aligned with port 81, and faces the same way as. seat. 88. The valve. seat 91 is controlledby a. ball-.valve 92, urged toward seat 9I by acompression spring 93 seated in plug. 16. A spring94, confined be,.-. tween ball valves 89 and 92, similarly urgesball valve 89 toward its seat.

Plunger 61 is of conventional designtomprising a pair of oppositely facing; cup leathers I09 and I! secured in assembled relationship, on rod 59 by a nut I02threaded onthe endof rod 89. This nut has a flat outerface I Il2- adapted to engage the surfaceof block 'I within barrel 55, thereby limiting downward movement ofthe plunger 61 and pad 88. v

Further, rod 69 has an extension I0 3 uof re duced diameter adapted freely to enter port 85; and contact ball valve 89. The parts are so proe portioned that, when plunger 67 is at the, lower limit of its movement, ball 89 is unseated (in a downward direction) a sufficient distance also to unseat the by-pass valve 92. Liquid can then pass freely from the. pressure space 2.8, through conduit 31, ports 98 and 81, past valve 92 to port l1, and thence through conduit, is and screen I9 into bucket I. Thus, by depressing pad 68 to its lower limit, pressure member 5 is permitted to return to its initial position.

As long as plunger BE, in its downward move ment, is not depressed sufficiently for extension I93 to cause unseating of the by-pass vat/ 9 this valve serves merely as a safety orrelief valve, since spring 93 is sufficiently strong to maintain it seated during normal operation of the pump. However, brief consideration will show that a pressure suffieiently great to damage .various parts of the mechanism may be built up by improper operation of the pump. When an excessive pressure is thus created, valve 92 will unseat against the force of spring 93 and by-pass liquid to the bucket to relieve the excesspressure.

The operation of the device may now; be. set forth in more detail. With the pressure member 5in its lower position, and gates/I and 8.-in;position to uncover housing 3, the mop or swab which it is desired to wring or press is placed within container 3 and on member 5, the handleof the mop or swab being held approximately vertical. The pad 68 is then operated anumber oifjtimes, as required, to cause, first, upward movement of member 5 and connected parts to swing gates I and 8 to closed position, confining the mop against the pressure member 5, and then to cause member 5 to exert a suitable pressure against the mop to express the liquid therefrom. The parts will then be in substantially the relative positions illustrated in Fig. '7. The gates I and 8 have central cut-out spaces 'I-a and 8-a to accommodate the mop handle at this time. A plurality of openings 5-0. are provided in the bottom of member 5 to facilitate the escape of liquid therefrom.

When a desired -amount-ot liquid has been expressed fromthe map, plunger 61 is depressed to the limit of-its movement-,- allowing the liquid to escape from pressure-space-28, which, in turn, allowspressure mernber- 5: and gates I: and: 8' to return to their-initial position. The mop can then be readily-removed from thelcontainer 3.

Although the housing. 3. is shown as oi e-ircular cross section. it is to be understood that it. may havea cross section of some. other-shape. such as square or rectangular, if desired, to suit; differently shaped. articles from. which, it. is desired to express liquid.

The terms wringing, wringer mechanism, and the like, which. appear in the-specification and claims are not to beconstrued asnecessarily including a twisting on rotary: movement to err.- press the iq om t ei opnro he rt cle but to refer generally to a pressing. or squeezing operation for such; purpose.

In the modified form of the, invention shgwn in Fi 8. a p tu s-t isq se wh h ,113- e i ial y e ical with. hati st d cribede r n for the m han sm i bonerat s he.sates 7 a T s er j he. u ular m in supported by posts 4, into, which the pressure me 5 s urged rfluidrms ure plied to cylinder 24 by conduit 3,-1, alias before,

In place of. the cam mechanism of. the prior form, an auxiliary cylinder, H0 is providedfor urging gates I and 8., to; closed, position above housing "3. This cylinder- Iillis shown as formed by a short tube III threadedly. secured on the upper, side of a supporting; bridge H2. extending between an adjacentpair of. the'posts 4 andse cured thereto. For this purpose, the. bridge I12 is provided. with bosses II3,'respectiv e1y. at its opposite ends through which the posts tpass, a taper pin I I4 axially fixing the posts, in the bosses.

A conventional piston or plunger II5 s provided in tube HI and. cooperates. therewith to define a pressure space, I I6 which is in continuous communication with conduit 3.! by abranch conduit Ill. Piston H5 carries ayoke IIBby means of a short pis onrod H9. v Links I2! and I22 are pivoted at the opposite ends of yoke-11a and extend upwardly therefrom to gates "I and 3 respectively, link I2] beingpivotally secured at I23 to side member 4! of gatefL and. link I22 being pivotally secured at I24; to side memb er 42 of gate 8. Compression springs. I25. and IE6, surrounding links I2I and I22, 1 interposed be; tween flange I6 and yoke I9, serving tourge yoke I it to its lowermost position in whichit seats on top of tube III and swings gates l and 8 cle a r of the opening in housing 3.

It will be apparentthat pressure inspace Ht; sufficient to overcome the force of; springs I25 and I26willurge piston I I5yandconnectedparts upwardly andswing gates I-- and 8-together to close the top of housing 3; in the same manner as shown in Fig. '7. Release of this pressure permits springs I25 and I26 to return the pistonto its lower position.

Such actuating pressure in space II61is ob} tained'by operating the pump I9-and restraining upward movement of pressure member 5, as by downward force exerted on the mop handle. This will cause the pressure built up in conduit 37 and pressure chamber 28 in the main cylinder 24 to act in space I I6 by connection II].

The inventor claims:

1. In a wringer mechanism. a housing open at both ends, a pressure member movable longitudinally in the housing, means for moving said member in pressure exerting direction, means including 'a gate element pivoted on the housing for movement transversely of the housing, to close that end of the housing toward which said member moves in a pressure exerting operation, means forming a cam'surface on said member, and means forming a cam follower on said element cooperating with said cam surface, said surface being so formed as to move said element to closed position in response to an initial portion of the movement of said member in pressure exerting direction, and to maintain said element in closed position during the balance of the movement of said member in pressure exerting direction.

2. In a wringer mechanism, a housing open at both ends, a pressure member movable into the housing from one end thereof, means for moving said member in pressure exerting direction, a pair of gate elements pivoted at'spaced points on the housing for movement in opposite directions transversely of the housing to close the other end of the housing, a pair of spaced cam followers respectively on said gate elements, and means forming a wedge-shaped cam surface carried by said member interposed between said followers, whereby movement of said member in pressure exerting direction'causes said elements to move in closing direction.

3. In a wringer mechanism, a housing open at both ends, a pressure member movable into the housing from one end thereof, means for moving said member in pressure exerting direction, a pair of gate elements, each embracing the housing and being pivotally secured on opposite sides thereof, pairs of spaced cam followers respectively on said elements on opposite sides of the housing, and a cam member carried by said member having fingers respectively on opposite sides of the housing, each of said fingers having a wedge-shaped cam surface interposed between the cam followers of each pair of cam followers, whereby movement of said member in pressure exerting direction causes said elements to move in closing direction, said cam followers cooperating with said fingers to guide the means moving said member.

4. In a liquid expressing mechanism: a housing open at its opposite ends; a pressure applying member in the housing; an axially movable rod connected to the member for applying a force thereto; a pair of covers, each pivoted on opposite walls of the housing, for closing one end thereof; and a cam member carried by the rod for moving said cover members to closed position, said cam member having cam carrying arms respectively atopposite sides of the housing, and assisting in guiding the motion of the rod.

5. In combination: a liquid container, and a pressure exerting device adapted to express liquid from a mop or the like into said container, said device comprising: a stationary tubular housing for said mop or the like; a pair of gates, each rotatable about separate fixed points of said housing, said gates being capable of closing one end of said stationary housing and providing thereby a surface against'which the mop may be pressed; a presser member adapted to be moved longitudinally of said stationary housing toward and away from said gates; fluid pressure means utilizing the liquid of said container for moving said presser member and for rotating said gates; and means conducting the liquid of said container to said fluid pressure means including a plunger adapted to be manually operated exteriorly of the container.

6. In combination: a liquid container, and a pressure exerting device adapted to express liquid from a mop or the like into said container, said device comprising 2 a stationary tubular housing for said mop or the like; a pair of gates, each rotatable about separate fixed points of said housing, said gates being capable of closing one end of said stationary housing and providing thereby a surface against which the mop may be pressed; a presser member adapted to be moved longitudinally of said stationary housing toward and away from said gates; means providing a cammed surface movable with said presser member; and a cam follower carried by each of said gates.

7. In combination: a liquid container, and a pressure exerting device adapted to express liquid from a mop or the like into said container, said device comprising: a stationary tubular housing for said mop or the like; a pair of gates, each rotatable about separate fixed points of said housing, said gates being capable of closing one end of said stationary housing and providing thereby a surface against which the mop may be pressed; a presser member adapted to be moved longitudinally of said stationary housing toward and away from said gates; means forming a cammed surface movable with said presser member; a cam follower carried by each of said gates; fluid pressure means utilizing the liquid of said container for moving said presser member; means conducting the liquid of said container to said fluid pressure means; aplunger adapted to be manually operated exteriorly of said container for actuating said fluid pressure means; and manually operable means whereby liquid is entirely removed from said presser means.

RAY W. SCOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 504,077 Burnham Aug. 29, 1893 1,524,159 Sunderman Jan. 27, 1925 1,659,505 Welch et al Feb. 14, 1928 1,710,698 Green Apr. 30, 1929 1,734,582 Jakob Nov. 5, 1929 1,770,197 Carter July 8, 1930 1,811,556 Nilson June 23, 1931 1,991,453 Giovannoni Feb. 19, 1935 2,050,484 Burry Aug. 11, 1936 

